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When SilverStone releases an aluminum tower-sized case, it is a big deal. This company has released hit after hit in their TJ series, including such memorable cases as the TJ03 (Maximum PC’s Dream Machine Case 2004) and the TJ07 (Maximum PC’s Dream Machine Case 2005 and XYZ Computing current test case). Now they have added another case to this line: the TJ09.

This product is intended to be the ultimate in ATX case design, the price-is-not-a-factor, top-of-the-line case that competes with the best from Lian Li, Thermaltake, and other companies known for their aluminum design. (In case you were wondering, the TJ08 was an aluminum Micro-ATX tower. It is no slouch, but does not fall in the same category as all the other TJ cases).

The TJ09 is different from the TJ07 in that is not only costs less, but also returns the series to the sort of unconventional design we saw with the TJ06. The TJ07 had a relatively standard design but used an impressively bent piece of aluminum that wrapped about the top/front/bottom and very much increased the cost of the product. The TJ09 dropped that but has added a few interesting features, including a unique see-through air duct, a dedicated 120mm fan for the video cards, pre-cut holes for watercooling, and a removable motherboard tray.

Looking at the specs we can see that the TJ09 is a full tower case- it can handle a SSI/EATX motherboard as well as six drives. It is actually a bit smaller that the TJ07 which measures in at 220 mm (W) x 560 mm (H) x 565 mm (D), despite the TJ09’s increased depth. This extra depth is there to allow for the cooling in the middle of the case, by means of the duct and a 120mm fan, something made clear by the fact that the TJ07 can also handle SSI/EATX motherboards. The added height and limited depth of the TJ07 is due to the hard drives being placed under the motherboard rather than vertically stacked against the bezel as they are in most ATX cases (TJ09 included).

The case is composed of aluminum- 2.0mm for the majority of the case and 5.0mm for the bezel- though the vent in the middle is mainly steel. The workmanship is all top-notch, as good as that found on other premier aluminum cases, including those from Lian Li and Zalman. This case even scores some showoff points for the sanded down rivets on the top, the pop-out front I/O, and the use of screws so that almost ever part of the case can be removed from the chassis.

The side window is a nice piece of plexiglass that is attached to the left panel. Zalman was able to do this a more cleanly with the Fatal1ty case, but it is a good deal more expensive than the TJ09 and the added value of aesthetic features like this is almost zero. Personally I think this case would look better without the window, as would almost all aluminum cases, but that’s just me. If you want to be able to show off your handiwork or custom watercooling system, a window is a must.

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The case’s most interesting feature is the vent in its side panels. This is designed to allow airflow through the grilles towards the front to cool the hard drive cages while the see-through part allows for an opening for another fan. This central area is something new to case design and allows cool area from outside the case to get inside right in the middle of the interior and then be to directed, by a 120mm fan, to the video card(s). This is a very nice piece of work, and while it is unusual is does a very good job of getting cooling where it is needed. Interestingly, the hard drive bays have no active cooling when the case ships, but a 120mm fan can be added if needed.

The front I/O has actually been moved to the top of the case where it is hidden away. If a small door is pulled out the two USB 2.0 slots, Firewire, and mic/audio connections are exposed. This is a great way to have accessibility without it getting in the way, taking up room on the front of the case, or looking unsightly. This design is not as convenient as other options but is still easy to use and it makes sure no dust gets in your connections. Near this piece are a few sanded down rivets that are practically invisible. This is an example of a company going an extra mile to make sure a high-end case looks great.

The front of the TJ09 features a 5mm thick hunk of aluminum screwed to the chassis. These six are the case’s only exposed screw heads (aside from the back), and they give it a cool industrial look. The bezel has four 5.25″ bays, a single 3.5″ bay, two LEDs, and metal power/reset buttons. If the gunmetal grey buttons were not cool enough for you the on the bottom of the bezel is an engraved logo in the aluminum that looks fantastic. It does not really fit in with the rest of the exterior, which is quite spartan, but SilverStone did a great job with this little piece of branding.

Flipping the case around to get a look at the back we can see that it is not entirely unlike the TJ09. The PSU is placed on the bottom of the case, under the motherboard, and at above the motherboard there are fans on the top and also on the back of the case. The TJ09 uses two 120mm fans on the top and one 120m on the back while the TJ07 has two 120mm on the top and two 92mm on the rear. The difference is actually minimal, though the TJ09 is the better design. Also at the rear is venting towards the top, more venting next to the expansion slots, and two holes for watercooling lines.

Looking at all those thumbscrews you can probably tell that the interior section of the rear, the motherboard tray can be pulled right out of the case along with all the expansion cards. This is generally not needed for cases this large, but it is something that sets the TJ09 apart and can be something that makes installation and upgrades go along very smoothly.

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Opening the case up is just a matter of removing a few thumbscrews and then pulling the rear of the door outwards. The door comes off easily and it is not as flimsy as the typical aluminum door, which is a nice sign.

Inside, the TJ09 has a very nice layout. It is not as compartmentalized as most of the cases in this category that we have been seeing lately. This means that the PSU is in the same general area as the motherboard, though the hard drives are basically kept to themselves. With three 120mm fans running in the back and a fan dedicated to the video cards, the cooling is excellent.

As with any case this large, the hard drive area is extremely important. This case can hold six 3.5″ drives in the two removable cages. They are kept vertically on a series of pads in order to dampen vibration and, on the whole, this storage system works out very well. The main problem here is that with the vent and fan in the middle routing the cables can be messy and sometimes difficult. This should not be a problem, but if you are a clean case fanatic or are constantly swapping drives it can be annoying.

Overall the TJ09 has a very good interior and more than enough cooling to keep enthusiasts happy. The large fans to not create much noise and they can easily be added/removed depending on your needs. If you are interesting in watercooling it might be possible to put your radiator in place of one of the hard drive cages or in front of the PSU, that is if you don’t want to get an exterior unit and use the holes in the back of the case. The 120mm fan and the middle duct is a nice step forward in ATX case design because video card cooling has become a serious problem. This should help out substantially, especially for overclockers and people running SLI/Crossfire.

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Conclusion

There is no question about it- SilverStone is responsible for another great aluminum case. The TJ09 is different from previous models, like the TJ07 and the inverted-ATX TJ06, but still is in keeping with what we have come to expect from the SilverStone brand. It features impressive aluminum work despite having a price drop from the TJ07.

There is a lot of competition in the high-end sector of the case market though, and before buying a TJ09 some thought should be given to the case and the other options available. Some issues with the TJ09 are the fact that is only has six hard drive bays and that the air duct in middle is a waste unless you actually need the video card cooling. Also while the hard drive cooling is not ideal, it should be more than enough to get the job done due to the vertical placement of the drives. If you can live with just six drives this case could be a solid extended ATX file server, but ideally it would be better suited as a powerful gaming tower.

The TJ09 matches strong performance with great looks, something not all towers can do. It is not the right pick for everyone looking for a tower, but it is definitely one of the best ATX cases to come out in the last year or two. SilverStone did a nice job of keeping things relatively simple and getting innovative when it was called for, while not getting bogged down with unnecessary cooling or fancy options.

(+)– Amazing build quality– Very good cooling options– Looks great– Available with or without window